Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(I Thessalonians 1:1-5.8b-10; Matthew 23:13-22)
Robert Browning writes a lovely verse that reflects the significance of today’s feast:
THE year 's at the spring,
And day 's at the morn;
Morning 's at seven;
The hill-side 's dew-pearl'd;
The lark 's on the wing; 5
The snail 's on the thorn;
God 's in His heaven—
All 's right with the world!
Mary’s crowning as queen of heaven and earth anticipates the same fullness of creation. It is the glory of the end of time that we all await. In the reading from I Thessalonians Paul relates a sense of the same unmitigated joy. The community of Thessalonica has perfectly assimilated the salvation Christ has won for the world. Paul is exuberant and cannot help saying, “We give thanks to God always for all of you…”
